Industrialized construction protagonists have always tracked advances in manufacturing concepts to argue for similar efficiencies to be applied in architecture and construction. The next ten blog posts will investigate the generative and contemplated connections between manufacturing approaches and buildings.
Batch or lot production denotes a controlled number of items or grouped assemblies characterized by an identical time frame, dimensional constraints, ingredient lists or tooling benchmarks. The «lot» circumscribes quality control measures and performance metrics for monitoring the series’ fabrication parameters and service life.
How does batch production relate to architecture or construction? A batch of timber trusses, premixed mortar bags, reinforced concrete for a building frame or even a delivery of steel beams and posts for a skeletal frame all carry project specific measures defining their limited serial production on or offsite. The series / batch can be tweaked or charted according to required adjustments for quality, customization, or other contextual requirements. An even clearer example of this type of serial or lot production in construction is architectural precast concrete panel envelope elements. The non-loadbearing panels are conceived with decorative profiles, textures, colors, thicknesses, and dimensions for a single building. This type of set uniqueness characterizes a batch; particularized panels cast in a factory are arranged and organized corresponding to a controlled data set containing unique architectural specifications framed by producers’ capabilities. Once the panels are produced for their site or building, a subsequent lot of panels with their own uniqueness can be launched.
Batch production guides the evolution of mass production toward mass customization as nuanced details and information can be applied to a set number of components. This type of prefabricated building panel is usually employed as a thick curtain wall, set and hung from structural reinforced concrete or steel frames. Lifting point anchors and slab to panel connectors are also project specific depending on scope and spans. Not as industrialized as heavy-duty post war precast panel systems which employed mass produced identical panels across innumerable projects, here the idea of a batch allows architects to use predetermined criteria like transport constraints, modularity, dimensional coordination, connectors, finishes, or aggregate type to design completely personalized panels for distinctive projects.
Precast concrete panels used as a curtain wall
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